Method and terminal for controlling bandwidth part inactivity timer

ABSTRACT

This disclosure provides a method for controlling a bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to a Bandwidth Part (BWP) activated on a secondary cell. The method is performed by a terminal, including disabling the bandwidth part inactivity timer, when the secondary cell switches from an activated state to a non-activated state, while the BWP stays activated on the secondary cell.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.17/033,902 filed Sep. 27, 2020, which is a bypass continuation of PCTApplication No. PCT/CN2019/075679 filed Feb. 21, 2019, which furtherclaims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 201810286236.4 filedMar. 30, 2018, all of which are incorporated herein by reference intheir entireties.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of communicationstechnologies, and in particular, to a method for controlling a bandwidthpart inactivity timer and a terminal thereof.

BACKGROUND

Currently, a Carrier Aggregation (CA) technology is introduced in a LongTerm Evolution (LTE) system. In the CA technology, User Equipment (UE)is connected to a network for communication by using multiple cells,where one of the multiple cells is a Primary Cell (Pcell), and anothercell is a Secondary Cell (Scell). The Scell includes an activated stateand a deactivated state, and the Pcell does not include a deactivatedstate and always maintains an activated state.

Currently, for the Scell in CA, the following several processes arestarted in an activation process through configuration:

-   -   sending a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) on the Scell (SRS        transmissions on the Scell);    -   reporting Channel Quality Indicator (CQI)/Precoding Matrix        Indicator (PMI)/Rank Indicator (RI)/Precoding Type Indicator        (PTI)/Channel State Information Reference Signals Resource        Indicator (CRI) information for the Scell (CQI/PMI/RI/PTI/CRI        reporting for the Scell);    -   monitoring a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) on the        current Scell (PDCCH monitoring on the Scell);    -   monitoring a PDCCH for the current Scell (PDCCH monitoring for        the Scell);    -   if a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) is configured on        the current Scell, sending the PUCCH on the current Scell (PUCCH        transmissions on the Scell, if configured);    -   starting or restarting a deactivation timer of the Scell (start        or restart the Scell Deactivation Timer associated with the        Scell); and    -   triggering a Power Headroom Report (PHR) (trigger PHR).

An activation/deactivation mechanism of the Scell is implemented basedon a combination of an activation/deactivation Media Access ControlControl Element (MAC CE) and deactivation timers.

A Scell activation/deactivation operation based on a MAC CE iscontrolled by an eNodeB, and a Scell deactivation operation based on adeactivation timer is controlled by UE (user equipment or a terminal).

1. Scell activation/deactivation based on a MAC CE:

A MAC CE format for activation/deactivation is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG.2 . Logical Channel (LC) IDs of a corresponding MAC subheader arerespectively 11011 and 11000.

Ci corresponds to an activated/deactivated state of a Scell with ScellIndex-r10 configured as i.

If Ci is set to 1, it indicates that a corresponding Scell is activated.If Ci is set to 0, it indicates that a corresponding Scell isdeactivated.

2. Scell Deactivation Based on a Deactivation Timer:

UE maintains a deactivation timer (Scell Deactivation Timer)corresponding to all Scells of the UE, and the Scell deactivation timerhas a same value. This value may be configured as “infinity”, that is,Scell deactivation based on the timer is disabled. In this case, the UEcannot control Scell deactivation.

When the UE receives no data or PDCCH message on a corresponding Scellwithin a time indicated by the deactivation timer, the Scell isdeactivated.

Under the foregoing precondition, because switching from the deactivatedstate to the activated state has a relatively large delay, a new state(Scell dormant state) is introduced to reduce the delay. The new statehas the following characteristics: No Li signaling is introduced instate switching; a CQI is periodically reported only based on a CellReference Signal (CRS); or no PDCCH is monitored.

In addition, switching between the new state and the activated state orthe deactivated state may be controlled by a MAC CE. It is determinedthat a concept of Bandwidth Part (BWP) is introduced in a New Radio (NR)system, where one or more BWPs may be configured for a serving cell. ABWP is activated and deactivated through BWP switching. In addition, abandwidth part inactivity timer is introduced, and is configured to:control the UE to autonomously switch to a default BWP when the UE isnot scheduled to send/receive data or not instructed by PDCCH signalingto perform BWP switching within a period of time. When the UE isscheduled to send/receive data, or is instructed by PDCCH signaling toperform BWP switching, the timer is started.

In this case, when the Scell switches to the new state and a BWP isconfigured for the Scell, an operation manner of the bandwidth partinactivity timer corresponding to the BWP is indefinite currently.

SUMMARY

An embodiment of the present disclosure provides a method forcontrolling a bandwidth part inactivity timer and a terminal, to resolvethe problem in the related technologies that an operation manner of abandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to a BWP is indefinite.

According to a first aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosureprovides a method for controlling a bandwidth part inactivity timer,including:

-   -   determining a work switching state of a secondary cell for which        a BWP is configured; and    -   disabling, by a terminal when the work switching state switches        from an activated state to a non-activated state, a bandwidth        part inactivity timer corresponding to a BWP currently activated        on the secondary cell.

According to a second aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosurefurther provides a terminal, including:

-   -   a determining module, configured to determine a work switching        state of a secondary cell for which a BWP is configured; and    -   a processing module, configured to: when the work switching        state switches from an activated state to a non-activated state,        disable a bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to a BWP        currently activated on the secondary cell.

According to a third aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosurefurther provides a terminal, including a processor, a memory, and aprogram that is stored in the memory and may run on the processor, wherewhen the program is executed by the processor, the steps in the methodfor controlling a bandwidth part inactivity timer are performed.

According to a fourth aspect, an embodiment of the present disclosureprovides a computer readable storage medium, where the computer readablestorage medium stores a program, and when the program is executed by theprocessor, the steps in the method for controlling a bandwidth partinactivity timer are performed.

In this way, in the method for controlling a bandwidth part inactivitytimer in the embodiments of the present disclosure, the work switchingstate of the secondary cell for which the BWP is configured is firstdetermined, and when the work switching state switches from theactivated state to the non-activated state, the terminal disables thebandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currentlyactivated on the secondary cell. Therefore, an operation manner of thebandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the BWP is definite.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a signaling format of a one-byte MAC CE for activation ordeactivation;

FIG. 2 shows a signaling format of a four-byte MAC CE for activation ordeactivation;

FIG. 3 is a schematic flowchart of a method for controlling a bandwidthpart inactivity timer according to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 4 is a schematic flowchart of a method for controlling a bandwidthpart inactivity timer according to another embodiment of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 5 is a schematic flowchart of a method for controlling a bandwidthpart inactivity timer according to still another embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a block diagram of modules of a terminal according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is another block diagram of modules of a terminal according to anembodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is a schematic architectural diagram of a terminal according toan embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following describes exemplary embodiments of the present disclosurein further detail with reference to accompanying drawings. Although theaccompanying drawings show exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure, it should be understood that the present disclosure may beimplemented in various manners and shall not be limited to theembodiments described herein. On the contrary, these embodiments areprovided to understand the present disclosure more thoroughly and allowa person skilled in the art to entirely comprehend the scope of thepresent disclosure.

In the specification and claims of this application, terms such as“first” and “second” are used for distinguishing similar objects, andare not necessarily used to describe a particular order or sequence. Itshould be understood that such used data is exchangeable in a propercase, so that the embodiments of the present disclosure describedherein, for example, can be implemented in sequences other than thoseshown in the figures or described herein. In addition, terms “include”and “comprise” and any variation thereof are intended to covernon-exclusive inclusion. For example, processes, methods, systems,products, or devices including a series of steps or units are notnecessarily limited to these clearly listed steps or units, and insteadmay include other steps or units not clearly listed or inherent to theseprocesses, methods, products, or devices. “One of A, B, and C” and “A,B, or C” are intended to include any one of A, B, and C.

As shown in FIG. 3 , an embodiment of the present disclosure provides amethod for controlling a bandwidth part inactivity timer, including step31 and step 32.

Step 31: Determine a work switching state of a Scell for which a BWP isconfigured. During specific implementation, when a terminal receivesstate switching signaling of the secondary cell or a timer forcontrolling state switching of the secondary cell expires, the workswitching state of the Scell for which the BWP is configured isdetermined.

Herein, the state switching signaling of the Scell may be delivered by anetwork device and may be specifically MAC CE signaling sent by thenetwork device, and indicates state switching of the Scell, for example,an activated state being switched to a deactivated state.

Herein, the timer for controlling state switching of the Scell may becontrolled by the terminal. For example, when the timer expires, theScell switches from an activated state to a deactivated state.

Certainly, herein, the work switching state of the Scell may bealternatively controlled by another device or other signaling or may beimplemented in another manner.

Step 32: When the work switching state switches from the activated stateto the non-activated state, the terminal disables a bandwidth partinactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currently activated on theScell. Herein, the non-activated state may include all states, forexample, a new state or a deactivated state of the Scell except theactivated state. The new state is specifically a new state (DormantScell state) introduced for the Scell, and is between the activatedstate and the deactivated state. In the new state, no Li signaling isintroduced in state switching, a CQI is allowed to be periodicallyreported based on a reference signal, or no PDCCH is monitored. Forexample, the new state may be introduced in a 5G system.

In this embodiment, when the work switching state switches from theactivated state to the non-activated state, the terminal disables thebandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currentlyactivated on the Scell. Therefore, an operation manner of the bandwidthpart inactivity timer is definite.

As shown in FIG. 4 , an embodiment of the present disclosure provides amethod for controlling a bandwidth part inactivity timer, including step41 and step 42.

Step 41. Determine a work switching state of a Scell for which a BWP isconfigured. In this step, an implementation of the work switching stateis the specific implementation of step 31 in the foregoing embodiment.Details are not described herein again.

Step 42: When the work switching state switches from an activated stateto a new state, the terminal disables a bandwidth part inactivity timercorresponding to the BWP currently activated on the Scell.

Specifically, when the work switching state switches from the activatedstate to the new state, if the currently activated BWP is not a defaultBWP, the terminal stops the bandwidth part inactivity timercorresponding to the BWP currently activated on the Scell, or waits forexpiration of the bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to theBWP currently activated on the Scell, or sets, as expiration, thebandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currentlyactivated on the Scell.

In this embodiment, the bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding tothe currently activated BWP is configured by a network device. Thenetwork device configures a timer for each configured BWP, or mayconfigure a timer for UE, where the timer has a same function as that ofthe bandwidth part inactivity timer. The bandwidth part inactivity timeris configured to control the UE to switch to a default BWP if theterminal obtains no scheduling transmission instruction, or performs nounscheduled sending or receiving, or receives no bandwidth partswitching control signaling within specified duration of the bandwidthpart inactivity timer corresponding to the currently activated BWP (anon-default BWP). In other words, the default BWP herein is a BWP towhich the terminal switches if the terminal obtains no schedulingtransmission instruction, or performs no unscheduled sending orreceiving, or receives no bandwidth part switching control signalingwithin the specified duration of the bandwidth part inactivity timercorresponding to the currently activated BWP.

When the UE receives Scell state switching signaling on the activatedScell or the timer for controlling Scell state switching expires,switching to the new state is required. Herein, the new state has a samemeaning as that of the new state in the foregoing embodiment.

If the currently activated BWP of the UE is not a default BWP, that is,the bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the activated BWPmay be in a working state, the UE stops the bandwidth part inactivitytimer corresponding to the BWP currently activated on the Scell, orwaits for expiration of the bandwidth part inactivity timercorresponding to the BWP currently activated on the Scell, or sets, asexpiration, the bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the BWPcurrently activated on the Scell.

Herein, stopping the bandwidth part inactivity timer may be, forexample, disabling the bandwidth part inactivity timer. Setting, asexpiration, the bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the BWPcurrently activated on the Scell may be, for example, directly resettinga current working state of the bandwidth part inactivity timer, where astate after resetting is an expiration state.

In this embodiment, when the work switching state switches from theactivated state to the new state, the terminal disables the bandwidthpart inactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currently activated onthe Scell. Therefore, an operation manner of the bandwidth partinactivity timer is definite.

As shown in FIG. 5 , an embodiment of the present disclosure provides amethod for controlling a bandwidth part inactivity timer, including step51 and step 52.

Step 51: Determine a work switching state of a Scell for which a BWP isconfigured. In this step, an implementation of the work switching stateis the specific implementation of step 31 in the foregoing embodiment.Details are not described herein again.

Step 52: When the work switching state switches from an activated stateto a deactivated state, the terminal disables a bandwidth partinactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currently activated on theScell.

Specifically, when the work switching state switches from the activatedstate to the deactivated state, if the currently activated BWP is not adefault BWP, the terminal waits for expiration of the bandwidth partinactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currently activated on theScell, or sets, as expiration, the bandwidth part inactivity timercorresponding to the BWP currently activated on the Scell.

In this embodiment, the bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding tothe currently activated BWP is configured by a network device. Thenetwork device configures a timer for each configured BWP, or mayconfigure a timer for UE, where the timer has a same function as that ofthe bandwidth part inactivity timer. The bandwidth part inactivity timeris configured to control the UE to switch to a default BWP if theterminal obtains no scheduling transmission instruction, or performs nounscheduled sending or receiving, or receives no bandwidth partswitching control signaling within specified duration of the bandwidthpart inactivity timer corresponding to the currently activated BWP (anon-default BWP). In other words, the default BWP herein is a BWP towhich the terminal switches if the terminal obtains no schedulingtransmission instruction, or performs no unscheduled sending orreceiving, or receives no bandwidth part switching control signalingwithin the specified duration of the bandwidth part inactivity timercorresponding to the currently activated BWP.

When the UE receives Scell state switching signaling on the activatedScell or the timer for controlling Scell state switching expires,switching to the deactivated state is required.

If the currently activated BWP of the UE is not a default BWP, that is,the bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the activated BWPmay be in a working state, the terminal waits for expiration of thebandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currentlyactivated on the Scell, or sets, as expiration, the bandwidth partinactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currently activated on theScell.

Herein, setting, as expiration, the bandwidth part inactivity timercorresponding to the BWP currently activated on the Scell may be, forexample, directly resetting a current working state of the bandwidthpart inactivity timer, where a state after resetting is an expirationstate.

In this embodiment, when the work switching state switches from theactivated state to the deactivated state, the terminal disables thebandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currentlyactivated on the Scell. Therefore, an operation manner of the bandwidthpart inactivity timer is definite.

The foregoing embodiments of the present disclosure separately providesolutions of processing of an operation manner of the bandwidth partinactivity timer when the Scell switches from the activated state to thedeactivated state, for example, switches from the activated state to thenew state or switches from the activated state to the deactivated state.Therefore, the terminal can control the bandwidth part inactivity timerwhen the Scell is in the new state or the deactivated state.

As shown in FIG. 6 , a terminal 60 in an embodiment of the presentdisclosure can implement various details of the foregoing methodembodiments, and achieve the same effect. The terminal 60 specificallyincludes the following function modules:

-   -   a determining module 61, configured to determine a work        switching state of a secondary cell for which a BWP is        configured; and    -   a processing module 62, configured to: when the work switching        state switches from the activated state to the non-activated        state, disable a bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding        to the BWP currently activated on the secondary cell.

As shown in FIG. 7 , the processing module 62 includes:

-   -   a first processing unit, configured to: when the work switching        state switches from an activated state to a new state, disable a        bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the BWP        currently activated on the secondary cell; and    -   a second processing unit, configured to: when the work switching        state switches from an activated state to a deactivated state,        disable a bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the        BWP currently activated on the secondary cell.

The first processing unit is specifically configured to: when the workswitching state switches from the activated state to the new state, ifthe currently activated BWP is not a default BWP, stop the bandwidthpart inactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currently activated onthe secondary cell, or wait for expiration of the bandwidth partinactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currently activated on thesecondary cell, or set, as expiration, the bandwidth part inactivitytimer corresponding to the BWP currently activated on the secondarycell.

The second processing unit is specifically configured to: when the workswitching state switches from the activated state to the deactivatedstate, if the currently activated BWP is not a default BWP, wait forexpiration of the bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to theBWP currently activated on the secondary cell, or set, as expiration,the bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the BWP currentlyactivated on the secondary cell.

The determining module 61 is specifically configured to: when stateswitching signaling of the secondary cell is received or a timer forcontrolling state switching of the secondary cell expires, determine thework switching state of the secondary cell for which the BWP isconfigured.

The processing module 62 is further configured to switch to a defaultBWP if no scheduling transmission instruction is obtained, or nounscheduled sending or receiving is performed, or no bandwidth partswitching control signaling is received within specified duration of thebandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the currently activatedBWP.

The bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to the currentlyactivated BWP is configured by a network device.

To better achieve the foregoing objective further, FIG. 8 is a schematicstructural diagram of hardware of a terminal for implementing thevarious embodiments of the present disclosure. The terminal 80 includes,but is not limited to: components such as a radio frequency unit 81, anetwork module 82, an audio output unit 83, an input unit 84, a sensor85, a display unit 86, a user input unit 87, an interface unit 88, amemory 89, a processor 810, and a power supply 811. It can be understoodby a person skilled in the art that the structure of the terminal shownin FIG. 8 does not constitute a limitation on the terminal, and theterminal may include more or fewer components than those shown in thefigure, or combine some components, or have different componentarrangements. In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminalincludes, but is not limited to, a mobile phone, a tablet computer, anotebook computer, a palmtop computer, a vehicle-mounted terminal, awearable device, a pedometer, or the like.

The processor 810 is configured to: determine a work switching state ofa secondary cell for which a BWP is configured; and when the workswitching state switches from the activated state to the non-activatedstate, disable a bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to theBWP currently activated on the secondary cell.

This embodiment of the present disclosure separately provides solutionsof processing of an operation manner of the bandwidth part inactivitytimer when the Scell switches from the activated state to thedeactivated state, for example, switches from the activated state to thenew state or switches from the activated state to the deactivated state.Therefore, the terminal can control the bandwidth part inactivity timerwhen the Scell is in the new state or the deactivated state.

It should be understood that in this embodiment of the presentdisclosure, the radio frequency unit 81 may be configured to receive andsend signals in a process of receiving and sending information orcalling. Specifically, the radio frequency unit 81 receives downlinkdata from a base station for processing by the processor 810, and sendsuplink data to the base station. Generally, the radio frequency unit 81includes, but is not limited to, an antenna, at least one amplifier, atransceiver, a coupler, a low noise amplifier, a duplexer, and the like.In addition, the radio frequency unit 81 may further communicate with anetwork and other devices through a wireless communications system.

The terminal provides wireless broadband Internet access to a userthrough the network module 82, for example, helps the user receive andsend e-mails, browse web pages, and access streaming media.

The audio output unit 83 may convert audio data received by the radiofrequency unit 81 or the network module 82 or stored in the memory 89into an audio signal, and output the audio signal as sound. Moreover,the audio output unit 83 may further provide audio output (for example,call signal receiving sound and message receiving sound) related to aspecific function performed by the terminal 80. The audio output unit 83includes a speaker, a buzzer, a receiver, and the like.

The input unit 84 is configured to receive an audio signal or a videosignal. The input unit 84 may include a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)841 and a microphone 842.

The GPU 841 processes image data of a still picture or a video obtainedby an image capturing apparatus (such as a camera) in a video capturingmode or an image capturing mode. A processed image frame may bedisplayed on the display unit 86. The image frame processed by the GPU841 may be stored in the memory 89 (or another storage medium) or sentthrough the radio frequency unit 81 or the network module 82. Themicrophone 842 can receive sound and can process such sound into audiodata. The processed audio data can be converted into format output thatcan be sent to a mobile communications base station through the radiofrequency unit 81 in a telephone call mode.

The terminal 80 further includes at least one sensor 85, such as a lightsensor, a motion sensor, and other sensors. Specifically, the lightsensor includes an ambient light sensor and a proximity sensor, wherethe ambient light sensor can adjust brightness of the display panel 861based on brightness of ambient light, and the proximity sensor can turnoff the display panel 861 and/or backlight when the terminal 80 movestowards the ear. As a category of the motion sensor, an accelerometersensor can detect accelerations in all directions (generally threeaxes), and can detect the magnitude and direction of gravity when it isstill. The accelerometer sensor may be configured to identify a terminalgesture (for example, switching between a landscape mode and a portraitmode, related games, and magnetometer gesture calibration), performvibration identification-related functions (for example, a pedometer andtapping), and the like. The sensor 85 may also include a fingerprintsensor, a pressure sensor, an iris sensor, a molecular sensor, agyroscope, a barometer, a hygrometer, a thermometer, an infrared sensor,and the like. Details are not described herein again.

The display unit 86 is configured to display information input by a useror information provided to a user. The display unit 86 may include adisplay panel 861, and the display panel 861 may be configured in a formof Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED), orthe like.

The user input unit 87 may be configured to receive inputted digit orcharacter information and generate key signal input related to usersetting and function control of the terminal. Specifically, the userinput unit 87 includes a touch panel 871 and another input device 872.The touch panel 871 is also referred to as a touch screen, and cancollect a touch operation on or near the touch panel 871 by a user (forexample, an operation on or near the touch panel 871 by the user withany suitable object or accessory such as a finger or a stylus). Thetouch panel 871 may include two parts: a touch detection apparatus and atouch controller. The touch detection apparatus detects a touch positionof a user, detects a signal brought by a touch operation, and transmitsthe signal to the touch controller. The touch controller receives touchinformation from the touch detection apparatus, converts the touchinformation into contact coordinates, sends the contact coordinates tothe processor 810, and receives and executes a command from theprocessor 810. In addition, the touch panel 871 can be implemented byusing multiple types such as a resistance type, a capacitance type,infrared rays, and surface acoustic waves. In addition to the touchpanel 871, the user input unit 87 may also include another input device872. Specifically, the another input device 872 may include, but is notlimited to, a physical keyboard, functional keys (for example, a volumecontrol key and a switch key), a trackball, a mouse, and a joystick.Details are not described herein again.

Further, the touch panel 871 may cover the display panel 861. When thetouch panel 871 detects a touch operation on or near the touch panel871, the touch operation is transmitted to the processor 810 todetermine a type of a touch event, and then the processor 810 provides acorresponding visual output on the display panel 861 based on the typeof the touch event. Although in FIG. 8 , the touch panel 871 and thedisplay panel 861 are two independent components for implementing inputand output functions of the terminal, in some embodiments, the touchpanel 871 and the display panel 861 may be integrated to implement theinput and output functions of the terminal. Details are not limitedherein.

The interface unit 88 is an interface connecting an external apparatusto the terminal 80. For example, the external apparatus may include awired or wireless headset port, an external power supply (or a batterycharger) port, a wired or wireless data port, a memory card port, a portfor connecting an apparatus having an identification module, an audioinput/output (I/O) port, a video I/O port, a headset port, and the like.The interface unit 88 may be configured to receive input (for example,data information and power) from an external apparatus and transmit thereceived input to one or more elements in the terminal 80, or may beconfigured to transmit data between the terminal 80 and the externalapparatus.

The memory 89 may be configured to store software programs and variousdata. The memory 89 may mainly include a program storage area and a datastorage area. The program storage area may store an operating system, anapplication program required by at least one function (for example, asound playing function and an image playing function), and the like. Thedata storage area may store data (for example, audio data and aphonebook) created based on use of the mobile phone, and the like. Inaddition, the memory 89 may include a high-speed random access memory ora non-volatile memory, for example, at least one disk storage device, aflash memory, or another volatile solid-state storage device.

The processor 810 is a control center of the terminal. The processor 810uses various interfaces and circuits to connect the various parts of theentire terminal, and performs various functions of the terminal andprocesses data by running or executing software programs and/or modulesstored in the memory 89 and invoking data stored in the memory 89, tomonitor the terminal as a whole. The processor 810 may include one ormore processing units. Optionally, the processor 810 may integrate anapplication processor and a modem processor. The application processormainly deals with an operating system, a user interface, an applicationprogram, and the like. The modem processor mainly deals with wirelesscommunication. It can be understood that alternatively, the modemprocessor may not be integrated into the processor 810.

The terminal 80 may also include a power supply 811 (for example, abattery) that supplies power to various components. Optionally, thepower supply 811 may be logically connected to the processor 810 througha power supply management system, to perform functions of managingcharging, discharging, and power consumption through the power supplymanagement system.

In addition, the terminal 80 includes some function modules not shown.Details are not described herein again.

Optionally, an embodiment of the present disclosure also provides aterminal, including a processor 810, a memory 89, and a computer programthat is stored in the memory 89 and can run on the processor 810. Whenthe computer program is executed by the processor 810, various processesof the embodiments of the method for controlling the bandwidth partinactivity timer are performed, and the same technical effect can beachieved. To avoid repetition, details are not described herein again.The terminal may be a wireless terminal or a wired terminal. Thewireless terminal may be a device providing voice and/or other servicedata connectivity to a user, a handheld device with a wirelessconnection function, or another processing device connected to awireless modem. The wireless terminal may communicate with one or morecore networks through a Radio Access Network (RAN). The wirelessterminal may be a mobile terminal, such as a mobile phone (or referredto as a “cellular” phone) and a computer with a mobile terminal, and maybe, for example, a portable, pocket, handheld, computer built-in, orvehicle-mounted mobile apparatus, which exchange language and/or datawith a radio access network. For example, the wireless terminal is adevice such as a Personal Communication Service (PCS) telephone, acordless telephone, a Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) phone, aWireless Local Loop (WLL) station, or a Personal Digital Assistant(PDA). The wireless terminal may also be referred to as a system, asubscriber unit, a subscriber station, a mobile station, a mobileconsole, a remote station, a remote terminal, an access terminal, a userterminal, a user agent, or a user device or user equipment. This is notlimited herein.

An embodiment of the present disclosure further provides a computerreadable storage medium, where the computer readable storage mediumstores a computer program. When the computer program is executed by theprocessor, various processes of the embodiments of the method forcontrolling the bandwidth part inactivity timer are performed, and thesame technical effect can be achieved. To avoid repetition, details arenot described herein again. The computer readable storage medium is, forexample, a Read-Only Memory (ROM), a Random Access Memory (RAM), amagnetic disk, or an optical disc.

A person of ordinary skill in the art can realize that the exemplaryunits and algorithm steps described with reference to the embodimentsdisclosed in this specification can be implemented by electronichardware or a combination of computer software and electronic hardware.Whether these functions are implemented by hardware or software dependson specific applications and design constraints of the technicalsolutions. A person skilled in the art may use different methods toimplement the described functions for each specific application, butsuch implementation should not be considered as exceeding the scope ofthe present disclosure.

A person skilled in the art can clearly understand that to describeconveniently and concisely, for a specific working process of thesystem, apparatus, and unit described above, refer to the correspondingprocess in the foregoing method embodiments. Details are not describedherein again.

In the embodiments provided by the present disclosure, it should beunderstood that the disclosed apparatuses and methods may be implementedin other ways. For example, the apparatus embodiments described aboveare only an example. For example, the division of the units is onlylogical function division. There may be other division manners in actualimplementation, for example, multiple units or components may becombined or integrated into another system, or some features may beignored or not implemented. In addition, the mutual coupling, directcoupling, or communication connection shown or discussed may be indirectcoupling or communication connection through some interfaces,apparatuses, or units, and may be in electrical, mechanical, or otherforms.

The units described as separate components may be or may not bephysically separated, and the components displayed as units may be ormay not be physical units, that is, may be located in one place ordistributed on multiple network units. Some or all of the units may beselected based on actual needs to achieve the objective of the solutionsof the embodiments.

In addition, functional units in each embodiment of the presentdisclosure may be integrated into one processing unit, or each unit mayhave separate physical existence, or two or more units may be integratedin one unit.

If the function is implemented in the form of software function unitsand sold or used as independent products, the function may be stored ina computer readable storage medium. Based on this understanding, theessence of the technical solutions of the present disclosure, or thepart contributing to the prior art, or some of the technical solutionsmay be represented in the form of software products. The computersoftware products are stored in a storage medium, and include a numberof instructions to enable a computer device (which may be a personalcomputer, a server, a network device, or the like) to perform all orsome of the steps of the methods described in various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. The storage medium includes various mediums, such asa USB flash disk, a removable hard disk, a ROM, a RAM, a magnetic disk,or an optical disc, that can store program code.

In addition, it should be noted that in the apparatuses and methods ofthe present disclosure, it is obvious that the components or the stepsmay be divided and/or recombined. These divisions and/or recombinationsshould be considered as equivalent solutions of the present disclosure.Moreover, the steps for performing the foregoing series of processingmay be performed naturally in chronological order based on a describedsequence, but do not necessarily need to be performed in chronologicalorder, and some steps may be performed in parallel or independently.Those of ordinary skill in the art can understand that all or any of thesteps or the components of the methods and the apparatuses of thepresent disclosure may be implemented in any computing apparatus(including a processor, a storage medium, and the like) or a computingapparatus network in the form of hardware, firmware, software, or acombination thereof. Those of ordinary skill in the art can implementthis by using their basic programming skills after reading thedescription of the present disclosure.

Therefore, the objective of the present disclosure may also be achievedby running a program or a set of programs on any computing apparatus.The computing apparatus may be a well-known general-purpose apparatus.Therefore, the objective of the present disclosure may also be achievedonly by providing a program product including program code forimplementing the method or the apparatus. In other words, such a programproduct is also included in the present disclosure, and a storage mediumstoring such a program product is also included in the presentdisclosure. Obviously, the storage medium may be any well-known storagemedium or any storage medium to be developed in the future. It should befurther noted that in the apparatuses and methods of the presentdisclosure, it is obvious that the components or the steps may bedivided and/or recombined. These divisions and/or recombination shouldbe considered as equivalent solutions of the present disclosure.Moreover, the steps for performing the foregoing series of processingmay be performed naturally in chronological order based on a describedsequence, but do not necessarily need to be performed in chronologicalorder, and some steps may be performed in parallel or independently.

Optional implementations of the present disclosure are described above.It should be noted that a person of ordinary skill in the art mayfurther make several improvements and refinements without departing fromthe principles described in the present disclosure, and theseimprovements and refinements also fall within the protection scope ofthe present disclosure.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method for controlling a bandwidth partinactivity timer corresponding to a Bandwidth Part (BWP) activated on asecondary cell, performed by a terminal, comprising: disabling thebandwidth part inactivity timer, when the secondary cell switches froman activated state to a non-activated state, while the BWP staysactivated on the secondary cell.
 2. The method according to claim 1,wherein the non-activated state is a new state or a deactivated state.3. The method according to claim 2, wherein disabling the bandwidth partinactivity timer, when the secondary cell switches from the activatedstate to the new state, while the BWP stays activated on the secondarycell comprises: when the currently activated BWP is not a default BWP,stopping the bandwidth part inactivity timer.
 4. The method according toclaim 2, wherein disabling the bandwidth part inactivity timer, when thesecondary cell switches from the activated state to the new state, whilethe BWP stays activated on the secondary cell comprises: when thecurrently activated BWP is not a default BWP, waiting for expiration ofthe bandwidth part inactivity timer, or setting, as expiration, thebandwidth part inactivity timer.
 5. The method according to claim 2,wherein disabling the bandwidth part inactivity timer, when thesecondary cell switches from the activated state to the deactivatedstate, while the BWP stays activated on the secondary cell comprises:when the currently activated BWP is not a default BWP, waiting forexpiration of the bandwidth part inactivity timer, or setting, asexpiration, the bandwidth part inactivity timer.
 6. The method accordingto claim 1, further comprising: determining a work switching state ofthe secondary cell on which the BWP is activated.
 7. The methodaccording to claim 3, wherein the default BWP is a BWP to which theterminal switches when the terminal obtains no scheduling transmissioninstruction, or performs no unscheduled sending or receiving, orreceives no bandwidth part switching control signaling within specifiedduration of the bandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to thecurrently activated BWP.
 8. The method according to claim 5, wherein thedefault BWP is a BWP to which the terminal switches when the terminalobtains no scheduling transmission instruction, or performs nounscheduled sending or receiving, or receives no bandwidth partswitching control signaling within specified duration of the bandwidthpart inactivity timer corresponding to the currently activated BWP. 9.The method according to claim 2, wherein when the new state is a DormantSCell state and when the terminal is in the Dormant SCell state, theterminal does not monitor Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH). 10.The method according to claim 2, wherein disabling the bandwidth partinactivity timer, when the secondary cell switches from the activatedstate to the new state, while the BWP stays activated on the secondarycell comprises: when the currently activated BWP is a default BWP,monitoring a Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) on the BWP. 11.The method according to claim 2, wherein disabling the bandwidth partinactivity timer, when the secondary cell switches from the activatedstate to the new state, while the BWP stays activated on the secondarycell comprises: when the currently activated BWP is a default BWP andwhen a Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH) is configured on thecurrent secondary cell, transmitting the PUCCH on the BWP.
 12. Themethod according to claim 2, wherein disabling the bandwidth partinactivity timer, when the secondary cell switches from the activatedstate to the new state, while the BWP stays activated on the secondarycell comprises: when the currently activated BWP is a default BWP andwhen a Sounding Reference Signal (SRS) is configured on the currentsecondary cell, transmitting the SRS on the BWP.
 13. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the bandwidth part inactivity timercorresponding to the BWP activated on the secondary cell is configuredby a network device.
 14. A terminal, comprising: a memory storing acomputer program; and a processor coupled to the memory and configuredto execute the computer program to perform operations for controlling abandwidth part inactivity timer corresponding to a Bandwidth Part (BWP)activated on a secondary cell, wherein the operations comprise:disabling the bandwidth part inactivity timer, when the secondary cellswitches from an activated state to a non-activated state, while the BWPstays activated on the secondary cell.
 15. The terminal according toclaim 14, wherein the non-activated state is a new state or adeactivated state.
 16. The terminal according to claim 15, whereindisabling the bandwidth part inactivity timer, when the secondary cellswitches from the activated state to the new state, while the BWP staysactivated on the secondary cell comprises: when the currently activatedBWP is not a default BWP, stopping the bandwidth part inactivity timer.17. The terminal according to claim 15, wherein disabling the bandwidthpart inactivity timer, when the secondary cell switches from theactivated state to the new state, while the BWP stays activated on thesecondary cell comprises: when the currently activated BWP is not adefault BWP, waiting for expiration of the bandwidth part inactivitytimer, or setting, as expiration, the bandwidth part inactivity timer.18. The terminal according to claim 15, wherein disabling the bandwidthpart inactivity timer, when the secondary cell switches from theactivated state to the deactivated state, while the BWP stays activatedon the secondary cell comprises: when the currently activated BWP is nota default BWP, waiting for expiration of the bandwidth part inactivitytimer, or setting, as expiration, the bandwidth part inactivity timer.19. The terminal according to claim 19, wherein when the new state is aDormant SCell state and when the terminal is in the Dormant SCell state,the terminal does not monitor Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH).20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program,when executed by a processor, causes the processor to implementoperations for controlling a bandwidth part inactivity timercorresponding to a Bandwidth Part (BWP) activated on a secondary cell,wherein the operations comprises, wherein the operations comprise:disabling the bandwidth part inactivity timer, when the secondary cellswitches from an activated state to a non-activated state, while the BWPstays activated on the secondary cell.